The Smiths signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their first album, The Smiths, in 1984. They based their songs on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr. Their focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound and a fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk was a rejection of the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time. Several Smiths singles reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, and all their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album Meat Is Murder (1985). They achieved mainstream success in Europe with The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), both of which entered the top 20 of the European Albums Chart.
Internal tensions led to the Smiths' breakup in 1987, followed by public lawsuits over royalties. Their live album Rank (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe. Since the band's dissolution, the members have refused offers to reunite and have all separately stated that the band is finished and will never reunite.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smiths
Studio albums
The Smiths (1984)
Meat Is Murder (1985)
The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die
When you say it's gonna happen now
When exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
The lyrics to The Smiths' song "How Soon Is Now?" touch on themes such as loneliness, isolation, and the desire for human connection. The opening lines, "I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar," speak to a sense of inadequacy and insecurity that the singer feels. They feel like they've inherited a feeling of shyness that they can't shake and that others may judge them for. However, the following line, "I am the son and heir of nothing in particular," shows that this shyness feels like an inherent part of their identity rather than a learned behavior from their family or upbringing.
Later in the song, the singer pleads with someone to "shut your mouth" if they're going to criticize the way they go about things, emphasizing the need for acceptance and understanding. They state that they are "human and need to be loved, just like everybody else does." The song then mentions a club where the singer could potentially meet someone, but in the end, they're left feeling alone, crying, and wanting to die. The final lines, "When you say it's gonna happen now, when exactly do you mean? / See I've already waited too long and all my hope is gone," convey a sense of hopelessness and frustration with the lack of connection in their life.
Overall, "How Soon Is Now?" is a powerful and relatable song that speaks to the universal desire for love and connection, as well as the fear of rejection and loneliness. Its haunting instrumentation and lyrics continue to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the son
I am the offspring
And the heir
And the successor
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
Of a severe introversion that is socially unacceptable
I am the son and heir
I am the descendant and inheritor
Of nothing in particular
Of no specific legacy
You shut your mouth
You remain silent
How can you say
How can you assert
I go about things the wrong way?
I act inappropriately?
I am human
I am mortal
And I need to be loved
And I require affection
Just like everybody else does
Just like all other humans
There's a club if you'd like to go
There is an establishment if you wish to attend
You could meet somebody who really loves you
You might encounter someone who genuinely adores you
So you go and you stand on your own
So you depart and remain unaccompanied
And you leave on your own
And you depart individually
And you go home and you cry
And you return to your residence and weep
And you want to die
And you desire to expire
When you say it's gonna happen now
When you declare it will transpire promptly
When exactly do you mean?
When precisely are you referring to?
See I've already waited too long
Because I have already endured excessive delay
And all my hope is gone
And my optimism has vanished
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Marr, Steven Patrick Morrissey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind